Multiplex switch



Nov. 25, 1941. H. w. BATcHELLl-:R 2,253,754

MULTIPLEX SWITCH FileclV June 16, 1938 Patented Nov. 25, 1941 lllll W. Datelldler,

laissa-fallito Newton, Standard M500., ereeaterJla-ael'lerationei'hlaasachuetta Application Jue 1l, 1838, ySerial No. '213,958

(Cl. ZCI-4) zclains.

f This invention relates to a multiplex electric switch adapted to control aplurality of different circuits by the manipulation of a single knob or handle. 'Ihe invention is of particular value where a plurality of electrically operable devices are to be controlled from a single location and simplicity of apparatus and economyl of space are desired. For example, automobiles are being supplied in rapidly increasing 'numbers with accessory devices some of which are electrically operated. Among such devices are heaters, defrosting devices and fog-lights. lEach of 'these devices is controlled A`by a switch. According to the present invention, two or more such devices can be independently controlled by manipulation of a single knob. Furthermore, resistance elements may be included in the structure for varying the voltage impressed on one or vmore of the devices. Inv thevembodiments of the invention herein shown -and described, a knobis connected with a plunger which can lbe pulled out to operate one or more switches, and with a rotor which is rotated to operate one or vmore other switches. Ifdesired. the switch isprovidred with-an interlock whereby the-knobvcan be rotated only when it is pushed in, and can be pushed and pulled only when it is in a certain angular position.

Certain embodiments ofthe inventionvare i1- iustrafed on the drawing, of which- Figure l is a longitudinal section of a switch embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the working parts of the structure.

Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are sectionallviewson the lines 3 3, 4-4, B-l, 8 8 and 1-1 of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of two of the members shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of a modined form of the invention.

As show'n in Figure l, the switch is contained in a housing including a cup-shaped shell 2l having a cylindrical sleeve 22 extending therefrom and coaxial therewith. This sleeve may be integral with the shell 2l or may be permanently secured thereto. The shell is provided with a suitable number of tongues 24 which engage in peripheral recesses in a flange 26 at the forward end of a cylindrical barrel ill made are bent over to engage behind Vthe flange 2l to secure the shell'2l to the barrel.

The sleeve 22 is externally threaded .to receive a pair of nuts 32 and by which the switch may be securely attached to Vasupnorting wall such as the dashboard `of .an automobile, the sleeve 22 projecting through a suitable hole in such supporting wall.

The switch structure illustrated on the drawing-comprises Itwo virtually independent switches for controlling three electrical devices, one of the switches being operated by pulling out zand lpushing in an operating member extending through the sleeve 22, the other switch Vbeing operated by rotation of the Aoperating member. As shown. this operating member comprbes a stem 40 which kis permanently secured `tofa hollow metal shaft 42 but is insulated .therefrom by a disk 44 of insulating material. The `shaft 42 ilts slidably within thesleeve 22 and vprojects from the forward end thereof to receive afingerlknob 40 which is preferably of molded insulated material and which is firmly but re'movahlyheld on the outer end portion of the shaft bysuitable lugs B0 in corresponding indentations in the hollow shaft.

Within the hollow shaft 42 is Vmounted a tell-tale lamp 52 having a base, which, as is usualwith small lamps of thiskind, is made-with a cylindrical metal shell 54 "having a pair of short pins 5l projecting radially therefrom, and a metaltip Il, the tip and shell being respectivelyconnected to ends of the filament inthe lamp. In order to provide a socket or 4.holding means within the hollow shaft 42 for `the lamp f 52. I insert in the shaft a metal thirnbie il which 'flange 62 when the lamp is inserted in the'socket.

'I'he lamp is then turned soas to move the pins Il out oi' registration with the notches'. 'The lamp is thenl held in the socketby'engagement of the pins against the rearfaceof the flange l2. V'I'his rear face may be indented at diametriof insulating material. The ends of the tongues i cally opposite points to receive the plnsfgs so behind the plunger 68 to press it forward against v the tip 68 of the lamp. The plunger 68,y also serves as an electrical connection between vthe tip of the lamp and the stem 48.

The barrel 38 is formed with a central bore for thestexny 48 of the operating member. AThe barrel also carries a number oi conductorswhich the forward end face of the barrel 88. These contact elements may be suitably formed on the forward end portions of the strips 12, 16 and 18, respectively, which may be bent to engage the front end'face of the barrel. The latter may be covered by-a suitable disk ||8 of insulating material which is heid in fixed position against the end face of the barrelbythe shell F28, the rear edge of which bears against the are arranged toy serve asswitch .elements and l which are connectible to circuit1wires.Vv These conductorscan be formed and arranged in vari` For convenience in assembling, the

ous ways. barrel as illustrated on the drawing may be made with a plurality o! shallow undercutchannels whichare parallelto the central boreand open 'therintd These Vchannels are four in lnumber .and receive conductors consisting of metal'strips 12, 1'4, 16 and 18. Each ofthese Ystripsis provided with `a suitable terminal such as a screw 80v by vwhich it maybe connected to a circuit wire. The strip 12 is intended for connection to a source of electrical energy such' as a, battery. Portions 82 oi' the strip 12 are exposed to the interior of the barrel through a row )of holes in an insulating stripk 84" which overlies the stripA 12 and isftltted therewith into one of the channels inthe interior of the barrel.

Inthe opposite channel, which 4 contains the strip .14.and `a covering strip 86 of insulating material,

'A area series of separate contact elements 88, 88

and'82 which are arranged in a row v`parallel to .thevaxis of the barrel and which are exposed vthrough thefinsulati'ng strip 86`to the interior of the barrel and respectively opposite tothe contact elements 82. The contact elements 88,

88,A and 82 may conveniently be heads Vof rivets whichproject through the wall of` the `barrel 38. .The element 88 is electrically connected with margin of the disk I|8. The disk is provided with holes in which are `disposed the contact elements |82, |84 and |88, these elements being in the form Vof-bosses on the end portions of Atheir @respective strips filling the holes in the disk ||8 so'that the exposed faces of these contactelements -are substantially flush with the forward faceof the disk. The `disk is also providedwith a central aperture I2 through which the stem 48 slidably extends. In orderto connect the elements |82,` |84 and |86 selectively one with another, the bridging conductor I|4 is provided which, as indicated in-Figures 2v and i4, has a number of radially projecting fingers. Each' nger has nearA its vend`a small boss H8 riding on the'forward face ofthedisk I8."A In the embodimentofthe invention illustrated in Figures Zand 4', the bridging conductor I I4V has six ngers |28, |22, |24, |26, |28 and |38.y Five of these fingers are designed for-contactxwith one or another of the contact elements. |82,` |84 and |86,` the finger |88 being merely for .me-

thefm'etal strip` 14 and With'one end of a re- 'sistance element 84.` The elements 88 and 82` areinsulated from the metal strip 14 but .are

` respectively connected'to the -resistance element [Slat an intermediate point thereof and at the oppositeend thereof. 'A bridging conductor |88 is provided to move into successivecontact'withv rthelelernents 88, 88gand, 82 so as to connect each of'these elements with the element 82 which is opposite thereto. Thus, by means of the bridging to'a battery can be connected to the strip 14 ,either directly through the contact element 88 Yor through a portion Vof theresistance element .84 `by connection with Vthe contactelement 88 for through the entire resistance element 84 by Vcontactwith the element 82. For' operating vthe bridging conductor |88, it is swivelly attached tothe stem` 48 of the operating member so that Athere' is an electrical connection between the conductor,- and the' stem'butthe two 'parts are relatively' rotatable. Thus the operator, by pulling 0n the knob 46, may draw the shaft 42 and stern,48 forward fora limitedvdistance, causing the ,bridging conductor |88 to move intosuccessive contact with the elements 88, 88 and 82 sofaslto connect these elements successively with k thestrip 12. This rheostat switch is designed `t'oruse'in controlling the motor of a heating unitfor van automobile but obviously canbe put *to other uses if desired.

A second 'switch is provided series of contact elements |82, |84 and |86 at by arranging a 'chanical balan'ce'ofv the conductor against the faceof the disk. The conductor ||4 is'preferably stamped from a sheet 'of springy brass or 'copper and is'` keyed to the operating member so as to rotate therewith. f To this end,the stern 48 is preferably made with a non-circular cross section. On the'stemis slidably iitted. a circular member or disk |32 having a bossg|34 on the rear face thereof which is non-circular. andwhich iits into a central aperture |88 in thevconductor III. The stem 48 also projects through a disk |88'of insulating material (Figurel) which rotates therewith. These members,1throughiwhich conductor |88, the strip 12 which is connectible the `stem projects, are held'together'in assembled relation by the shell 28 as indicated in Figure l.

Thus the stem 48 is free to slide throughthe apertures inthe conductor |I4, the disk|82 and the disk |38, but these members must rotate with the stem whenV the stern isv rotated by manipulation of the knob 46. 'I'he vmarginal portion of the disk |38 iscut away to'provi'de a1pair of radial shoulders adapted to' engage a .tongue |48 struck inward from .the metal-shell28.y vsogas to Vlimit the angle of vrotation of the disk |88 v'and thus of the stem 48. Y,

Yielding detent means are provided for both switches to hold the operating memberv in its several positions for use so that 'the' bridging conductors can be held in proper positionsin contact with respective contact elements.` ,Y To

this end the stern 4.8 is providedwitha number V0|! holes or lateralr recesses |42 which, as indicated in Figure *5. are adapted to receive springpressed detent elements such as balls |44 pressed .by springs |46, these'balls and springs being mounted vin a transverse bore in the disk |32.

The disk `is lsurroundedlbya collar '|48 which *y holds the balls and springs in position. 'The revcessesw|42 are so arranged that vthe balls |44 `enter them. whenever the bridging conductor |88 is in contact with a pair of contact elements within the barrel. For a similar purpose, the contact elements |82, |84 and |86 are indented as indicated at |58 in Figure 1 so that the bosses lli on the lingers of the conductor Ill may enter these recesses and thus act as detent elements. In order to make the detent action more effective. the disk |I may be provided with a series of holes or depressions |52 to receive the bosses H0. These recesses are arranged at equal distances from the axis of the disk ||0, as are also the contact elements |02, |04 and |06, so that the lingers of the conductor ||0 engage these recesses and contact elements as the conductor is rotated.

The contact element |02 is connectible with a battery or other source of electrical energy. The contact elements |00 and |00 may be connected to two different pieces of apparatus such as a windshield defi-Oster and a fog-light. Since it may be desirable on some occasions to employ one of these pieces of apparatus alone, and on other occasions to employ both together, the conductor ||4 is designed to connect the element |02 with either or both o! the elements |04 and |00. Referring to Figure 4, it may be seen that, if the conductor ||4 is rotated 30 to the left, all three contact elements will be connected together. If the conductor is rotated 30 to the right, the element |02 will then be connected to the element |04 but not to the element |06. The rotation of 60 to the right will connect the element |02 with the element |06 but not to the element |04. 'I'hus the element |02 may be connected with either of the other two elements alone, or with both together as desired.

Instead of utilizing the -rotary switch for two different pieces o! apparatus, a resistance element may be employed to change it into a rheostat switch for use with a single piece of apparatus. Thus, as illustrated in Figure 10, a resistance element |60 may be permanently connected across the strips and 10, the apparatus being connected to one or the other of these strips. In such case there would be no need for connecting all three of the elements |02, |04 and |06 together at the same time. Hence a simpler form of conductor III could be employed having two lingers extending from the axis at right angles to each other. For example, the ngers |20, |24 and |20 of the conductor H4 could be cut ofi', leaving active fingers |22 and |26, with the nger for mechanical balance.

It the switch is to be employed for the connot be simultaneously operated, an interlock may be provided to prevent the closing of either switch when the otherl is closed. To this end, f

the aperture ||2 in the disk may be made to t the stem 40, which, as hereinbetore mentioned, has a non-round cross section. Since the disk ||0 is non-rotatably secured in the casing, the stem l0 can be longitudinally moved through the aperture ||2 but cannot be rotated. In order to make possible the operation of the rotatable switch, the sides of the stem 40 may be notched to form a neck |10 so that the stem may be rotated when the disk |I0 registers with the neck |10. This neck is located so that it registers with the disk only when the bridging conductor ||0 is not in contact with any of the elements 02, 00, 90 and 02. Thus, when the push-and-pull switch is off", the rotary switch may be operated. Likewise, the lingers of the conductor I4 are so related to the aperture |35 and hence to the aperture ||2 and the disk ||0 that the stem 40 can be longitudinally moved through the aperture ||2 only when the rotary switch is in the oil position.

Where it is desirable to be able to use simultaneously all of the various pieces of apparatus controlled by the switches, independent operation of the push-and-pull switch or of the rotary switch regardless of the position of the other can be provided for. Such structure is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, the disk ||0 having a circular central aperture |12 in which the stem 40 is rotatable regardless of its longitudinal position. The stem can also be pushed and pulled at any time regardless of its angular position. Thus the various switches included in the multiplex switch can be independently and simultaneously operated.

It isl evident that various modications and changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated and described without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a multiplex electric switch, a cylindrical barrel oi insulating material having a central bore therethrough and a plurality of shallow undercut channels opening into said bore, a strip of metal iitted into each said channel and projecting from the rear end of said barrel, the forward end portions oi said strips being bent to engage the front end face of said barrel, a disk of insulating material secured against said front end of the barrel, said disk having a central aperture and openings equally distant from said aperture to expose portions of said strips, a bridging conductor slidable in said bore into simultaneous contact with two of said strips, an operating member having a portion extending through the central aperture in said disk and rotatably attached to said conductor, a second bridging conductor rotatable with said operating kmember and provided with contact points movable into contact with said exposed portions of the strips, and means pressing said second bridgtrol of different pieces oi' apparatus which should` ing member 'against said disk.

2'. In a multiplex electric switch, a cylindrical barrel of insulating material having a central bore therethrough and a plurality of shallow undercut channels opening into said bore, a strip of metal tted into each said channel and projecting from the rear end of said barrel, the forward end portions of said strips being bent to engage the iront end face of said barrel, means for retaining said strips in place in said channels, movable switch elements adapted to engage certain oi' said strips within the barreLland movable switch elements adapted to engage certain of said forward end portions oi' the strips.

HUGH W. BATCHEILER. 

